Sarcasm Doesn’t Translate: What Humor Reveals About Culture (and Global Business) - Show #153

In this episode, Wendy chats with Trevor Williams of Global Atlanta about what sarcasm really reveals: your assumptions, your cultural blind spots, and the hidden “subtext” that can make or break international relationships. Sarcasm shows up in every culture, but it doesn’t land the same way everywhere (and even varies region-to-region, as Wendy notes with the North vs. South divide in the U.S.). From language-learning humility to how global companies communicate amid trade uncertainty, this conversation is a reminder that in global business, the message isn’t just the words…it’s the context, the culture, and the intent behind them.

What you’ll learn

• Why sarcasm and humor often fail across cultures and how misunderstanding tone can quietly erode trust in global business relationships.
  
  
• How language learning and cultural humility improve communication and help leaders avoid costly assumptions when working across borders.
  
  
• How exporters are navigating today’s global trade landscape, including tariffs, uncertainty, diversification, and why globally engaged companies tend to be more resilient.